Letters to the editor for Monday, December 10, 2012

Monday

Dec 10, 2012 at 2:00 AM

The season of giving is a time to give thanks — and to give back. From helping those affected by Hurricane Sandy, to donating to our local Toys for Tots drive, America is at its best when it comes together to help others. Unfortunately, incentives that encourage our giving spirit are threatened like never before — and at a time when they're needed most.

The season of giving is a time to give thanks — and to give back. From helping those affected by Hurricane Sandy, to donating to our local Toys for Tots drive, America is at its best when it comes together to help others. Unfortunately, incentives that encourage our giving spirit are threatened like never before — and at a time when they're needed most.

Our elected leaders in Washington are considering caps or cuts to the charitable deduction, a 100-year-old tax benefit for those who give to charitable causes. While our nation faces a real and urgent budget crisis, this approach could have dire consequences, reducing donations to nonprofits and cutting or eliminating work important to our local communities, at a time when most have experienced higher demand for services.

Limiting the charitable deduction would greatly affect our organization, and the many other nonprofits that people care about and contribute to: our hospitals, volunteer fire departments, medical research foundations, and other nonprofits that provide valuable services.

The charitable deduction is different from other itemized deductions in that it rewards a selfless act by encouraging individuals to give part of their income to worthy causes.

Jim Delaune

Executive Director,

Orange County Land Trust

Middletown

Columnist Heather Yakin got it right. The murder/suicide committed by football player Jovan Belcher appears to be an act of domestic violence. He most probably would have committed the act by whatever means necessary.

Shame on Bob Costas for attempting to deflect the matter off the real issue and make it about guns. This, during a prime-time football game in front of a captive audience. It also reflects poorly on NBC and the NFL.

Costas is a sports announcer who should keep his opinions about social issues to himself and not be editorializing on the air. That is simply not his job and totally out of line.

A simple expression of sympathy for all those affected by the tragedy would have been much more appropriate.